Stephen A. Smith Reveals What Jimmy Butler's 'job' Is Without Stephen Curry

The Golden State Warriors suffered a cataclysmic blow when Stephen Curry went down with a hamstring injury.

The Minnesota Timberwolves took advantage of facing a team without its Hall-of-Fame player and evened the series at 1-1 with a 117-93 win in Game 2 on Thursday night.

No one player really took the reins in Curry's absence. Buddy Hield attempted a team-high 14 shots but made just five and finished with 15.

As for Jimmy Butler, he finished with 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting with seven rebounds and four assists.

Stephen A. Smith reveals what Jimmy Butler's job must be

Things will have to look much different in Game 3 if the Warriors want to keep the series alive in hopes of an eventual Curry return.

It's possible Curry could return for Game 5, but it will likely be Game 6, as the Warriors don't want to rush him back.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith didn't hold back when suggesting what Butler's job must be without Curry in the lineup.

"Jimmy Butler has got to be good for a game," Smith said. "You got to get a game without Steph Curry. That's Jimmy Butler's job. That's what you got him here for.

"Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, and [Anthony Edwards] when guarding Jimmy Butler, Butler is shooting 13% in this series. He's got to do better. He's got to raise his level of play."

"Jimmy Butler has got to be good for a game. ... You got to get a game without Steph Curry. That's Jimmy Butler's job."

—@stephenasmith on if the Timberwolves-Warriors series is over pic.twitter.com/7uqv1WYtq2

— First Take (@FirstTake) May 9, 2025

It's not out of the question that the Warriors could get that type of outing from Butler, who has repeatedly registered incredible playoff performances.

The Warriors aren't asking Butler and the rest of the roster to go out and win the series, but just to hang around long enough for the best shooter to ever pick up a basketball to get back and give them a chance.